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I have been building Squarespace sites at Altitude Design since 2018, and artists are some of my favourite people to build for. An artist's site has one job above all others: get out of the way of the work. Then it has to sell prints, take commission enquiries and keep exhibitions up to date.
For this roundup I went back through the Squarespace templates for artists we list on SquareLocator and checked every vendor page today, 2 November 2026. Where a vendor page would not load, I say so and only repeat what our own listing states.
Quick answer: my top pick
If you are a painter, illustrator or printmaker who takes commissions, Macie by The Creative Motif is the one I would start with. It is one of the few premium templates I have seen with a dedicated Commissions page built into the layout.
Macie by The Creative Motif
A Squarespace 7.1 template built for artists who take commissions, with portfolio, commissions, about and contact layouts.
What an artist's Squarespace site actually needs
In my experience a good Squarespace artist website covers five things:
- Portfolio grids with a lightbox. Scan a body of work, then click into one piece at full size.
- Selling prints and originals. Squarespace Commerce lets you add a shop to any template. According to the Squarespace pricing page today, all paid plans let you sell, but Basic carries a 2% online store transaction fee, while Core and above show 0%. Our guide to whether Squarespace is good for ecommerce covers the trade-offs.
- A commissions enquiry form. A clear process and a form that asks for size, medium and deadline saves a lot of back and forth.
- Exhibitions and news. A simple list of shows and stockists shows your practice is active.
- Instagram. New work often appears there first, so a feed keeps the site current.
Squarespace shows Basic at $19 a month billed annually ($25 monthly), Core at $29 ($39), Plus at $49 ($65) and Advanced at $99 ($139). Several premium templates below need Core or higher because they rely on custom code, so factor that in. Our Squarespace pricing guide breaks the plans down properly.
1. Macie by The Creative Motif
Price: $399 one-off (SquareLocator listing price).
Who it is for: painters, illustrators and other artists who sell their time as well as their work. SquareKicker lists it under Art and Design.
What stands out: the SquareKicker page confirms five pre-built layouts (portfolio, services, about, contact and landing) and 23 featured sections, including a gallery section and a dedicated space for commission services. The screenshots show a page labelled Commissions. It installs on any Squarespace 7.1 site, works with Fluid Engine, and includes a 30-day SquareKicker Extension subscription. SquareKicker states support comes from real people, with no chatbots.
- Pro: built around commissions, which most portfolio templates ignore
- Pro: human support from the SquareKicker team
- Con: no shop pages, so selling prints means adding Squarespace Commerce yourself
- Con: the animation tools come from the SquareKicker Extension; once the included 30 days end, you need a subscription to keep editing those effects
Alternative: Century, from the same designer, if you lean towards licensing rather than commissions.
Verdict: the most artist-specific premium template on this list, and my first recommendation for commission-led practices.
View MacieSee it on SquareLocator
2. Century by The Creative Motif
Price: $399 one-off, for one website.
Who it is for: illustrators who license their work.
What stands out: the SquareKicker page confirms five layouts (landing, portfolio, about, blog and contact), 11 featured sections including a gallery, and a call to action section for licensing enquiries. It is Squarespace 7.1 only and requires the Core plan or higher (SquareKicker's page still uses the old Business plan name; it also works on a free trial). SquareKicker states that you do not need an Extension subscription to use a template.
- Pro: licensing enquiry section is a thoughtful touch for illustrators
- Pro: blog layout included for news and exhibitions
- Con: no pre-built shop pages
Alternative: Macie if commissions matter more than licensing.
Verdict: a calm, portfolio-led template that suits illustrators working with publishers and brands.
View CenturySee it on SquareLocator
3. Opponent by Studio Mesa
Price: $295 for 15 pages, as shown on the Studio Mesa page today.
Who it is for: graphic illustrators, poster artists and studios whose work is bold enough to sit next to oversized type.
What stands out: Studio Mesa describes it as putting the portfolio front and centre, backed by services, a shop, blog, community and course page. It is built exclusively for Squarespace 7.1 Fluid Engine and needs a Core, Plus or Advanced plan because it relies on custom code. Lifetime email support and an unlimited licence are included.
- Pro: includes a shop page, unlike most portfolio templates
- Pro: lifetime email support and an unlimited licence
- Con: the strong graphic style will not suit quiet, painterly work
- Con: Core plan minimum
- Con: ownership transfer is manual and can take up to a week
Alternative: Japandi if you want a shop page with a much quieter look.
Verdict: the best value premium option here if your work is graphic and you want to sell from day one.
View OpponentSee it on SquareLocator
4. Japandi by Avelã Creative
Price: €99 on the Avelã Creative page.
Who it is for: ceramicists, makers and artists who want a shop alongside a simple portfolio. Avelã lists artists and shops among its intended users.
What stands out: pages for Home, Shop, Blog, About and Contact, with a minimal foundation that the vendor says lets visuals do the talking. It is fully customisable within Squarespace 7.1. Support includes a PDF guide and email replies usually within 24 hours.
- Pro: the cheapest premium option with a shop page included
- Con: no dedicated portfolio or commissions page
- Con: the page gives slightly different plan requirements in two places, so check before you buy
Alternative: Opponent if you need more pages and a portfolio.
Verdict: a sensible, affordable start for makers whose priority is selling.
View JapandiSee it on SquareLocator
5. Creative Layouts by Sharon Marta Creative
Price: $299, as listed on SquareLocator.
Who it is for: artists and designers who want an editorial portfolio rather than a sales site.
What stands out: I could not load the vendor's own site today, so this is based on our SquareLocator listing. It is a Squarespace 7.1 kit described as designed for artists and designers, with four pages (Home, About, Portfolio and Contact), galleries, a portfolio section and a contact form.
- Pro: built specifically with artists in mind
- Pro: editorial layout style gives work room to breathe
- Con: only four pages
- Con: ecommerce support is not confirmed, so check with the seller
Alternative: Century for a similar portfolio focus with a blog layout.
Verdict: a clean artist portfolio at a mid-range price, best if selling is secondary.
View Creative LayoutsSee it on SquareLocator
6. Isabella by Candor Templates
Price: $147, as listed on SquareLocator.
Who it is for: beginners who want a minimal, editorial portfolio with room to sell.
What stands out: Candor's own site did not show the Isabella listing when I checked today, so this comes from our SquareLocator listing. It is a Squarespace 7.1 template aimed at designers and artists, with Home, About, Portfolio and Contact pages, and ecommerce, blog and portfolio listed as features.
- Pro: low price for a premium template
- Pro: ecommerce and blog listed as features
- Con: only four pages
- Con: I could not verify support terms on the vendor site
Alternative: Japandi for a similar budget with a dedicated shop page.
Verdict: a good low-cost premium step up from the free templates.
View IsabellaSee it on SquareLocator
7. Sketchbook by Squarespace (free)
Price: free with a Squarespace plan.
Who it is for: illustrators and designers who want a tidy, readable portfolio without spending on a template.
What stands out: Squarespace's demo page redirected to its templates index when I checked, so this is from our SquareLocator listing. Sketchbook is a 7.1 template with Home, About, Portfolio and Contact pages, portfolio galleries and a minimal layout that prioritises readability over decoration. Demo content is included.
- Pro: free, with demo content to build from
- Pro: clean structure that suits drawings and illustration
- Con: basic shop setup only, so you will build the store yourself
Alternative: Reflect if you prefer a more modern feel.
Verdict: the best free starting point for illustrators.
View SketchbookSee it on SquareLocator
8. Reflect by Squarespace (free)
Price: free with a Squarespace plan.
Who it is for: painters and mixed media artists who want a modern portfolio.
What stands out: according to our SquareLocator listing, Reflect is a 7.1 kit with Home, About, Portfolio and Contact pages, a modern layout style, and a design aimed at artists and designers who put their portfolio first.
- Pro: free and quick to start
- Pro: portfolio-first structure
- Con: built for portfolios rather than ecommerce
Alternative: Kearny for an even plainer frame.
Verdict: a solid free option for artists who mainly need to show work.
View ReflectSee it on SquareLocator
9. Kearny by Squarespace (free)
Price: free with a Squarespace plan.
Who it is for: artists who want a straightforward frame and are happy to bring their own content.
What stands out: our SquareLocator listing describes clean layouts and organised portfolio galleries, with Home, About, Portfolio and Contact pages on 7.1. It notes Kearny does not come with demo content pre-loaded.
- Pro: very plain, so the artwork carries the site
- Con: no demo content to guide you
- Con: focused on showcasing work rather than selling
Alternative: Sketchbook if you want demo content to work from.
Verdict: for confident DIY artists who want the simplest possible frame.
View KearnySee it on SquareLocator
For more no-cost options, see our roundup of the best free Squarespace templates.
Comparison table
| Template | Vendor | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macie | The Creative Motif | $399 | Commission-led artists |
| Century | The Creative Motif | $399 | Illustrators who license work |
| Opponent | Studio Mesa | $295 | Graphic work plus a shop |
| Japandi | Avelã Creative | €99 | Ceramicists and makers selling online |
| Creative Layouts | Sharon Marta Creative | $299 | Editorial artist portfolios |
| Isabella | Candor Templates | $147 | Beginners on a budget |
| Sketchbook | Squarespace | Free | Illustrators starting out |
| Reflect | Squarespace | Free | Modern painter portfolios |
| Kearny | Squarespace | Free | Minimal DIY portfolios |
You will find more options in our full Squarespace templates collection. If you are weighing up SquareKicker templates, read our SquareKicker review or visit our SquareKicker page.
Add-ons worth considering
To keep the site feeling current, the Elfsight Instagram Feed (view on Elfsight) pulls posts, carousels and Reels into a grid or slider, with a popup for full-size viewing. Elfsight says it installs by pasting its code into your site; on Squarespace that means a Code Block, which needs Core or higher for JavaScript. Elfsight's free plan today allows one widget and 200 views a month with Elfsight branding; paid single app plans start at $5 a month billed annually. Our guide on how to add an Instagram feed to Squarespace walks through setup.
For more flexible galleries, the Elfsight Portfolio widget (view on Elfsight) and Elfsight Photo Gallery (view on Elfsight) are worth a look, alongside the options in our gallery and lightbox plugins roundup. If you are new to Elfsight, start with our Elfsight guide and our honest take on which Elfsight widgets are actually worth it.
How to choose
Start with how you earn. If commissions are your main income, choose a template with a commissions layout and a proper enquiry form, which is why Macie leads this list. If you sell prints and objects, prioritise a shop page and budget for at least the Core plan to avoid the Basic transaction fee. If the site is mainly a portfolio, a free template plus good photography of your work is often enough.
Free templates need more building; premium templates save hours but often require Core or higher. See how to choose the right Squarespace template, and if you also photograph for clients, our photographer template roundup is worth a look.
Opponent by Studio Mesa
Fifteen Fluid Engine pages including a shop, with lifetime email support and an unlimited licence.
FAQ
What is the best Squarespace template for artists in 2026?
For commission-led artists, my pick is Macie by The Creative Motif. If you want a shop built in, choose Opponent by Studio Mesa. On a zero budget, start with Sketchbook.
Can I sell prints and originals on a Squarespace artist website?
Yes. Squarespace's pricing page states that all paid plans let you sell products or services. The Basic plan carries a 2% online store transaction fee, while Core and above show 0%, so artists selling regularly usually do better on Core.
Are there good free Squarespace templates for illustrators?
Yes. Sketchbook, Reflect and Kearny are all free Squarespace 7.1 templates with Home, About, Portfolio and Contact pages. They are built for showing work rather than selling.
Do I need a SquareKicker subscription to use Macie or Century?
SquareKicker states that you do not need a SquareKicker Extension subscription to use a template, and its templates include a free 30-day Extension subscription. You only need an ongoing subscription if you want to keep editing the SquareKicker effects after that period.
Which Squarespace plan do premium artist templates need?
Many need Core or higher. Century requires the Core plan or higher, and Opponent needs Core, Plus or Advanced because it relies on custom code.
How do I add an Instagram feed to my Squarespace artist portfolio?
A widget such as the Elfsight Instagram Feed can be embedded with a Squarespace Code Block, which needs the Core plan or higher for JavaScript embeds. Elfsight offers a free plan with one widget and 200 views a month, with paid plans for busier sites.
Disclosure: SquareLocator may earn a commission if you buy a template or widget through an affiliate link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Links to squarespace.com are not affiliate links. Prices were checked on 2 November 2026 and can change. For our wider picks, see the best Squarespace templates in 2026.
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